Let us congregate together
to reach a common goal
of liberty and justice
to make the people whole.
Secure the budding children
the elderly and homeless
the rejected and the lonely
will no longer be an onus.
How hard is it to link our arms
to agree and thus succeed –
to reach solutions with accord?
It’s very hard, indeed.
images credit
via Congregate
You know what DID kill the cat? Fear. Fear encrusted the cat like a toxic blanket. Because of this, the cat, stuck high up in a tree, could not come down. He was paralyzed and not curious enough to see what would happen if he tried.
Curiosity encourages us to learn, to explore, to question. Curiosity leads to knowledge.
No one has ever said so, but I wonder sometimes if my questions make people think I’m nosy when I’m actually inquiring and attempting to gather information.
Answers gives us knowledge and truth sets us free.
So, be curious and climb down from that tree.
And, if you need to hang on for dear life, do it while standing firmly on the ground.
via Encrusted
photo credit
Although my body has never been flexible (can’t blame age for that one) I like to think I’m flexible in my thinking. But not always.
My opinions on important matters have remained constant – my position on gun safety, on child advocacy, on human rights.
And many things I used to love I have put on a shelf – Bikram Yoga, pilates (well, not too much love for that one), Italian lessons, playing piano, playing a djembe, oil and acrylic painting.
Not writing. I will always write. Now, however, I am focusing on children’s stories instead of novels.
I am learning more about photoshop, embroidery, Netflix.
One thing I know for sure: Change is constant.
And damn, I love that about this world.
Photoshopped for my children’s book, What Happened to Ten, a work in progress.
via Constant
Scooter and me walk to the swimming hole. He’s playing the blues harp, but even his sour notes don’t distract me from thinking about my birthday. Without Mama, it wouldn’t be a birthday anyway. It would be a few friends, a cake and presents without promise. Now I have to talk to The Secret Keepers, Miss Helen or Miss Delores. If they know where Mama is, maybe they can send word that I refuse to turn twelve without her.
Excerpt from The Moonshine Thicket, by C. Dennis-Willingham
via Present
I grabbed my little sister’s button nose and held out my hand to show her my thumb tucked between my two fingers.
“Cono, I’ve done told ya I was too big fer that!” Delma yelled and stomped her little feet in the dirt.
Instead of kicking me in the shins as usual, she picked up a stave from the ground and hit me right square between the eyes. She could tell by the look on my red face that I was madder than a hornet.
“Ya better start runnin’, Delma Jean, ’cause I’m comin’ after ya, and I’m gonna whoop ya!”
She ran those deer legs of hers right straight to the outhouse and got there just in time to lock herself in.
“I’m gonna push this outhouse right over on ya, Delma Jean!” I said, banging on the old cedar door.
I stood outside that smelly outhouse, listening for what she was gonna say next. Then I listened some more. When I didn’t hear anything, I said, “OK. Well, when ya come out, I’ll be right here waitin’. Then ya can see this knot between my eyes that’s growin’ into a real-life unicorn horn.”
I thought for sure she’d come out right then to see for herself. But she didn’t. I tiptoed away and went on about my business. I pretended that my new horn was a badge of courage, which I guess it was if you had yourself a little sister like Delma.
I can’t say for sure how long she stayed in there, but she knew that I wouldn’t spank her. And, of course, I’d never push a stinky old outhouse over with her in it.
Delma showed up for our quiet suppertime more clammed up than usual. I put an elbow on the table and used my left hand to hide the goose egg on my forehead. I didn’t want Delma to see it any more than I wanted Mother and Dad to. Then with my righthand, I ate my supper in silence like everybody else. Several times I caught Delma staring between my fingers trying to get a peek at my bump.
Later that night, Delma told me she didn’t mean to put a horn between my eyes. I told her it didn’t matter, that it didn’t really hurt anyhow.
By the next morning, my badge of courage was almost completely sucked back into my skull. Even though nobody else could see it, I reckoned it was still in there somewhere. And that’s where I decided I’d keep it from then on, next to the other ones I got elsewhere.
— Excerpt from No Hill for a Stepper, a novel about my father growing up in west Texas during the Great Depression.
image credit
via Courage
If out of nowhere you smell chicken soup
do you conjure up the memory of someone trying to make you feel better?
If you lay on the grass,
do you see your childhood friends beside you, giggling as a puppy licks your toes?
If you hear the coo of the mourning dove
are you transported back into the bed at your grandparent’s house laying peacefully under the quilted covers?
When you see a child squeal with happiness
are you remembering unwrapping your stuffed purple and pink cow that special Christmas Eve?
Memories are precious
Our goal is to have many more good ones than bad.
via Conjure
image from Pixabay
I love works of art. Possibly because I’m not very good at it.
Yes, I know the basics but, for some reason, I never seem to buy the right canvas. (wink)
We all know of Vermeer’s “Girl with the Pearl Earring.” But today, I discovered one of his works that I don’t remember seeing before and,
Wowzer!
I insist that you meet Vermeer’s “The Girl with the Red Hat” –
the hat, fuzzy and soft enough to feel
the lighting, impeccable
the cloak, smooth and silky beneath your fingers
her moist lips ready to speak
her eyes searching to know you.
I won’t give up painting on canvas but, for now, I’ll stick to painting words.
image source
Simplify your life. Don’t wear clothes.
No more mall dressing rooms.
No more decisions on style and color
No more grimaces when you don’t like what you see in the mirror
No more confinement
Instead of clothes
wear a smile
wear your heart on your sleeve
wear invisible jewelry that sparkles and shines
wear yourself
and dance knowing everyone is probably watching
That’s okay
They are waiting to grow into their skin so they can be like you
image credit
via Simplify
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 